plug and feathers

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noun

an apparatus for splitting stone, consisting of two tapered bars (feathers ), inserted into a hole drilled into the stone, between which a narrow wedge (plug ) is hammered to spread them.

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Origin of plug and feathers

First recorded in 1835–45

Words nearby plug and feathers

pluck, pluck up, pluck up one's courage, plucky, plug, plug and feathers, Plug and Play, plug away at, plugboard, plug casting, plug-compatible

How to use plug and feathers in a sentence

As an example of good science-and-society policymaking, the history of fluoride may be more of a cautionary tale.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
As this list shows, punishments typically run to a short-ish jail sentence and/or a moderately hefty fine.
In Defense of Blasphemy|Michael Tomasky|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yes, Byrd—dead four-and-a-half years now—was a Kleagle in the Ku Klux Klan.
Steve Scalise and the Right’s Ridiculous Racial Blame Game|Michael Tomasky|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
TLC promptly pulled the plug on the hit series and Shannon embarked on a press tour denying the claims.
Butts, Brawls, and Bill Cosby: The Biggest Celebrity Scandals of 2014 |Kevin Fallon|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Later that night, that same black-and-red banner would be seen again—in the column of marchers chanting for dead cops.
The Monsters Who Screamed for Dead Cops|Jacob Siegel|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She also practises etching, pen-and-ink drawing, as well as crayon and water-color sketching.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
No law of that country must exceed in words the number of letters in their alphabet, which consists only in two-and-twenty.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
The old dowager's voice toned down, and she pulled her black feathers straight upon her head.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
Admiration for brilliant colours, for moving things, such as feathers, is common to the two.
Children's Ways|James Sully
Mr. Spurrell came down to see a horse, and we shall be very glad to have the benefit of his opinion by-and-by.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 107, November 3, 1894|Various